Braiding machine



Oct. 31, 1939. E. MfPETERsl-:N 2,177.7;42

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ifi/9b.!

Oct. 3'1, 1939. E. M. PETESN BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED- sTATEs PATENT OFFICEBBAIDING MACHINE Earl M. Petersen, Winthrop, Masi. Application November10, 1938, Serial No. 239,918

4Claiml.

This invention relates to an improvement in bobbin carriers, useful forexample in weaving looms of the ordinary type; circular looms; braidingmachines, or in fact any machine in which a bobbin carrier or shuttlemust be moved along a -predetermined track. As here illustrated, by Wayof example, it is shown as embodied in a braiding machine of thatgeneral type wherein one set of bobbin carriers is revolved in acircular path about l0 the axis of the machine, while another set ofbobbin carriers, disposed in a circle concentric with the first-namedset, either revolves in the opposite direction or remains stationary,the strands from the second-named set of carriers being so controlledthat each carrier of the rstnamed set passes alternately over and understrands from the second-named set of carriers.

The primary object of this invention is to provide improved means fordriving a-bobbin carrier or shuttle by which the bobbin carriers of oneset are advanced, such means so devised as to impart motion to thebobbin carrier while leaving it free from driving contact with anymechanical part.

A further object of this invention resides in the employment of magnetsby which the bobbin carrier is held in nxed relation to driving meansfor advancing the said carrier but in such a way that a free passage isalways left between the carrier and the driving means.

n These and other objects of the invention will appear from aconsideration of the following description of one embodiment oftheinvention and of the accompanying drawings which forms a part thereofand in which Fig. 1 is a side view in section of a portion o1 a braidingmachine embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section 0i a bobbin carrier and aportion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

o Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the bobbin carrier shown inFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view on a reduced scale of an element of the machine;and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along 46 the line 5--5 ofFig. 3.

By way of example, but not by way of limitation, lthe invention is hereshown specifically as embodied in a braiding machine. This machinecomprises a stationary rim 26 carried by arms 2| 50 and supporting a'cam ring 22 provided with a cam groove 23. At the center of the machineis a tube 24 within a stationary hollow post 25 upon which post turns asleeve 26, suitable anti-friction bearings 21 being interposed betweenthe post and the Il sleeve. Fixed to the sleeve 26 is a hub 29 whichsupports an annular gear 29 in mesh with the pinion 36 of a drive shaft3 I. A collar 34 surrounding the hub 26 and supported thereon by a ballbearing 32 so that the collar is freely rotatable about the hub, carriesan annular gear 35 also in mesh 5 with the pinion 36 so that the gears29 and 35 are driven thereby in opposite directions.

Supported by the collar 34 through'arms 36 is a ring 31 concentric withand spaced inwardly of the stationary cam ring 22. Fixed upon the top ofthe l0 ring 31 are a plurality of caps 38 from which extend inwardlyarms 39. The arms 39 are preferably `joined intermediate their lengthsby a circumferentially extending ring 40 and carry at their inner ends aring 42 concentric with the ring 15 31. The caps 36, arms 39, and rings46 and `42 are here shown as integral but they may be separate units.Similarly the caps 36 may if desired be integral with the ring 31instead of separate, as illustrated. The opposed faces of the rings 31and 20 42 are provided Withgrooves 43 and 44 respectively, for a purposeto be set forth hereinbelow.

Fixed to the sleeve 26 above the collar 28 is a disk 45 having a sleevereceiving opening at the center defined by a ilange 46 keyed to thesleeve 26. 25 An annular carrier-driving ring 41 attached to theperiphery of the disk 45 serves not only to support bobbin carriers 66but also to propel them as described below. An oil guard 48 carried bythe flange 46 partially encloses the collar 34 and pro- 30 tects thebearings 32.

The bobbins 56 of one set designated for convenience the rst or outerset are supported upon brackets 5|, carried by the ring 40, preferablyone at each arm 39. Associated with each 35 bobbin 50 is a warp lever 52pivotally supported at one end upon a bracket 53 mounted upon the outerface of the ring 31. 'I'he free end of the lever is formed to provide athread-guide aperture 54 radially opposite to vertical slots 55 and 56in the rings 40 31 and 42 respectively. A block 51 on the lever 52enters the cam groove 23 so that the lever is raised and lowered duringthe operation of the machine.

A strand from the mass of thread or yarn on the bobbin 50 is guidedthrough a notch 58 in a com- 45 bined detector and tension lever 59 tothe lever aperture 54 and slots 55, 56.

The bobbins 60 of the other set designated for convenience as the secondor inner set are journaled in bobbin carriersv 6| supported upon the 50ring 41. Each carrier 6| comprises a plate 62 provided with'two rollers63 which -enter the groove 43 in the ring 31, and a roller 64 whichenters the groove 44 in the ring 42. The carrier is thus free to movecircumierentially independent of the rings 31. 42 in the path dened bythe grooves 43. 44. The plate 62 is further provided with ears 65 inwhich are supported rollers 66 which rest upon the annular ring 41 andthus space the carriers 6I therefrom.

The carriers 6| are held fixed relatively to the ring 41 so that theymove therewith by means of magnets 61 and 68 xed in the ring 41 and inthe ears 65 of the carrier plates. As shown the magnets 61 and 68 arepermanent magnets of the wellfknown horseshoe form, but it is to beunderstood that permanent magnets of other forms may be used or thatelectromagnets may be substituted therefor if desired. Associated witheach magnet 61 in the ring is a magnet 68 of a carrier, two pairs ofmagnets being provided for each carrier in the illustrated embodiment.The poles of each pair of magnets 61, 68 are separated so that thestrands from the bobbins of the rst set pass freely between the magnetsand under the carriers of the second set. As shown in Fig. 5. themagnets of each pair are arranged with the north pole of each magnetopposite the south pole of the other magnet so that the magnetic iieldsact to hold the carriers in position.

'Ihe center of the plate 62 is cut away to receive the bobbin 60, the,shaft 69 of which is engaged by sockets 10. The strand from the mass ofthread or yarn forming the bobbin is guided by a feeler or detector bar1| supported by the carrier plate 62. Mounted upon the tube 24 is abraiding die 15 having a central aperture dening the braiding point. Ifthe machine is to be used for covering a core the opening in the die isof suicient size to accommodate this core which is progressed throughthe tube as the braided covering is laid about it. The strands from therst or outer set of bobbins pass to the die through slots 55, 56 Whilethe strands from the second or inner set of bobbins pass directly to thedie.

Through the connections previously described the bobbins of both setsmove through circumferential paths, those of the outer set being drivenby the gear 35 in one direction, and those of the inner set being drivenby the gear 29 in the opposite direction. As the outer bobbins travelthe warp levers 52 raise and lower the strands so that each strandpasses over alternate bobbins of the inner set and under the otherbobbins of that set thereby forming with the strands from the second setof bobbins braid in the die 15 and tube 24. Since as shown particularlyin Fig. 3 bobbin carriers 6l of the second set are spaced from the ring41 and the poles of the magnets 61 and 68 are at all times separatedfrom each other, they do not interfere with the passage of the strandsbeneath the bobbins. 'Ihe rollers 66 have merely a line contact with thering 41 and being freely rotatable permit the strands to pass betweenthem and the ring.

It will be appreciated that by this construction the bobbin carriers 6Iare held in association with the driving plate 41 without mechanicalconnections and so as to provide free passage of strands under thebobbins. While one embodiment of such means has been described andshown, it will be understood that the invention is not limited theretoand that other embodiments may be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a braiding machine comprising two relatively movable sets ofbobbin carriers, and means for passing strands of the mass on thebobbins one set above and below the bobbin carriers of the other set, arotatable ring on which the bobbin carriers of one set are supported,means for rotating said ring, means for spacing the carriers from thering and means for holding such bobbin carriers in position upon thering for movement therewith, such means comprising magnets xed to said'ring and said carriers, those on the ring being spaced from those onthe carriers but in the common magnetic fields whereby the strands fromthe bobbins of the first set may be passed between suchV magnets.

2. In a braiding machine comprising two relatively movable sets ofbobbin carriers, and means for passing strands of the mass on thebobbins one set above and below the bobbin carriers of the other set, arotatable ring on which the bobbin carriers of one set are supported,means for rotating said ring, means for spacing the carriers from thering and means for holding such bobbin carriers in position upon thering for movement therewith such means comprising magnets fixed to saidring and said carriers, one pole of each magnet extending into the spacebetween the ring and the carriers, the pole of each magnet xed in thering being spaced from but in the magnetic eld of the pole of a magnetxed in a carrier whereby the carriers of the second set are held inposition upon the ring and the strands from the bobbins of the firstsettmay be passed between the poles of the magne s.

3. In a braiding machine comprising two relatively movable sets ofbobbin carriers, and means for passing strands of the mass on thebobbins one set above and below the bobbin carriers of the other set, arotatable ring on which the bobbin carriers of one set are supported,means for rotating said ring, means for spacing the carriers from thering and means for holding such bobbin carriers in position upon thering for movement therewith, such means comprising horseshoe magnetsfixed to said ring and said carriers with the poles thereof in the spacebetween the ring and the carriers, the poles of each magnet xed to thering being spaced from and in the magnetic fields of the poles of amagnet fixed to a carrier whereby the carriers of the second set areheld in position upon the ring and the strands from the bobbins of theiirst set may be passed between the poles of the magnets.

4. In a braiding machine comprising two relatively movable sets ofbobbins and means for passing strands of the masses on the bobbins ofone set above and below the bobbin carriers of the second set, arotatable ring on which the bobbin carriers of one set are supported,means for rotating said ring, rollers on said carriers by which thelatter are -spaced from the ring and means for holding such bobbincarriers in position upon the ring for movement therewith, such holdingmeans comprising horseshoe magnets fixed to said ring and said carrierswith both poles of each magnet in the space between the ring and thecarriers, the poles of each magnet fixed to the ring being spaced fromand in the magnetic elds of the poles of a magnet xed to a carrierwhereby the carriers are held in position upon the ring and the strandsfrom the bobbins of the first set may be passed between the poles of themagnets.

EARL M. PETERSEN.

